The Aerospace Advantage

Latest Episodes:

Tidal Wave: Understanding the Ploiești Raid — Ep. 312 Oct 17, 2026

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Episode Summary:

On August 1, 1943, 178 B-24s flew an incredibly daring strike against Axis oil refineries in Ploiești, Romania. The mission saw the loss of 54 bombers and nearly 500 airmen. Five individuals received the Medal of Honor, and a further 56 were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Join us as we chat with author Adam Makos regarding his newest book, Tidal Wave, the history surrounding the Ploiești bombing raid, and the crew of the B-24 Chattanooga Choo Choo. Not only do we talk about this important history, but we also learn more about how Adam approaches his airpower history research and writing projects.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Adam Makos, Author

Links:

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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #History #Airpower

GPS Update: What Does the Future Hold? — Ep. 311 Oct 10, 2026

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Episode Summary:

The Global Position System (GPS) is deeply engrained in modern life, both civil and military. It's so ubiquitous that most people take it for granted. This technology is the worldwide “gold standard” for precision space-based positioning, navigation, and timing. These functions underpin everything from mobile networks and power grids to global financial transactions and modern farming. They also facilitate a broad range of military operations. However, our adversaries understand these dependencies and seek to hold the GPS enterprise at risk. Join our in-depth discussion with Christina Mancinelli, the Vice President of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin, as we learn how the United States is investing in this critical mission to ensure necessary functions continue, even when under attack.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director & Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Christina Mancinelli, Vice President, Global Communications & Navigation, Lockheed Martin

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space #GPS

Weapons in Space, AI Predictions, and F-35 Readiness Gains: The Rendezvous — Ep. 310 Oct 03, 2026

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Episode Summary:

This week, we assess what’s going on in our nation’s capital as elections grow near and the window for passing legislation is closing. We also discuss the SECAF's announcement regarding weapons in space, plus his thoughts on the future of AI. Our team reviews the latest fighter aviation news—from F-35 combat readiness rates to the proposed F-16G. Experts then explain what's going on with munitions--from FAM to JATM and JASSM. The EA-37 also takes center stage, with the retirement of the EC-130H. Last but not least, if Sun Tzu said, "Know thy enemy," then why is the Air Force shuttering its China Aerospace Studies Institute?

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts & Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director & Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirForce #SpaceForce #Rendezvous

Want AF Airpower? Understanding Force Presentation — Ep. 309 Sep 26, 2026

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Episode Summary:

The effectiveness of Air Force airpower ultimately comes down to how the service presents forces to the combatant commanders. Post-9/11 operations saw units sliced and diced based on smaller unit type codes and individual Airmen to meet various mission taskers. While this approach may have bridged operations for Afghanistan and Iraq, it's inadequate for the demand signals the service sees today and as it prepares for for high-end conflict. Join us as we chat with Brig. Gen. Chris Hammond to learn about the Air Force's new force presentation concept: Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0--a concept that focuses on the wing-echelon as a unit of action. Brig. Gen. Hammond currently serves as Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff, where leads the Implementation Task Force, which is responsible for the development and standup of the Unit of Action defining the Air Force’s future force presentation model.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig. Gen. Christopher Hammond, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirForce

The Readiness Challenge: Can AI Help? — Ep. 308 Sep 19, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Readiness is one of the biggest challenges facing the Air Force as Airmen strive to meet surging demand with an aircraft inventory that is old and small. Service leaders have prioritized boosting readiness, which involves buying more spare parts, qualifying more suppliers, retaining more seasoned maintainers, and continue to buy new aircraft. To be truly successful, we also need to master the various readiness data sets so that we can better understand when, how, and why aircraft are facing issues…while also gaining better insights about what fixes will deliver the best results. We chat with Melissa Sutherland, executive vice president and airpower market lead at Booz Allen, to learn more about how AI might help crack this challenge.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Melissa Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Air Power Market Lead, Booz Allen Hamilton

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AI #readiness

Air Combat Propulsion Update: Innovator Perspectives — Ep. 307 Sep 12, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Jet propulsion is one of the most important technologies in airpower. Whether you’re going head-to-head with an enemy fighter, crossing an ocean on a mobility flight, or trying to make it back to base amidst bad weather at night…there’s nothing more important than having confidence in the engine that’s powering your airplane. The technology is so dependable these days that folks just expect them to work. That said, we can’t take this position of strength for granted. Competitors like China are trying to catch up with their own designs. We are in a propulsion race and we can only preserve our lead if we continue to invest in new technologies and produce at scale. We learn more about this topic with Peter Sommerkorn, Vice President for Military Development Programs at Pratt and Whitney, and Chris Hugill, Vice President for the company’s prototyping arm, Gatorworks.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Peter Sommerkorn, Vice President, Military Development Programs, Pratt & Whitney

Guest: Chris Hugill, Vice President, Pratt & Whitney GATORWORKS

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirForce #Technology

Congress Back in Session, Space Launch Surge, and Massed Modular Aircraft: The Rendezvous — Ep. 306 Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

In this episode, our team reviews what's going on in DC as we enter the fall and election grow near. We also discuss the impact of munitions shortfalls, fighter procurement, and the newly proposed Massed Modular Aircraft. When it comes to spacepower, we discuss the Space Academy, honors for the Artemis II crew, and a surge in space launch. Our team wraps up exploring why the CSAR H-60W inventory should not be diluted.

Related Media:

America’s Systemic Munitions Shortfall

Fighting the Air Base: Ensuring Decisive Combat Sortie Generation Under Enemy Fire

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #uav #airforce #europe

Sanctuary Denied: Defending Air Bases from the Small UAV Threat — Ep. 305 Aug 29, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney and Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) discuss the small UAV threat and how the Air Force is fighting back with Col. Alfred Rosales, Commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, and Lt. Col. Cody Moore, ACC Directorate of Operations A35 division chief. It's no secret: small UAVs are driving massive battlespace change. From Ukraine to the Middle East, cheap and highly adaptable UAVs are attacking at scale. Traditional air defense systems are strained trying to meet the threat. We talk about the Point Defense Battle Lab at Grand Forks AFB, layered sensing capability, and training airmen for the counter-UAV mission.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Guest: Brig. Gen. Houston "Slider" Cantwell, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Col. Alfred Rosales, Commander, 319th Reconnaissance Wing

Guest: Lt. Col. Cody Moore, ACC Directorate of Operations A35 Division Chief

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #uav #airforce #europe

So Others May Live: Inside the Combat Search and Rescue Mission — Ep. 304 Aug 22, 2026

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney talks combat search and rescue (CSAR) with Col. Michael "Mongo" Kingry, Deputy Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base. When two F-15E aircrew were shot down deep inside Iran during Operation Epic Fury, the Air Force paused an entire air campaign to bring them home and did so successfully. CSAR matters. It's the product of decades of investment in unique technology, training, tactics, and people. Join us for a deep dive into how a rescue is executed and how the mission is evolving.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col. Michael "Mongo" Kingry, Deputy Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #CSAR #Europe #Rescue

Inside the EOU: Turning CCA into Combat Power — Ep. 303 Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

Collaborative combat aircraft are no longer just a concept. Airmen are now loading weapons onto them, controlling them in flight, and flying them alongside manned platforms. In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney and Houston "Slider" Cantwell of the Mitchell team talk to Col. Scott Gunn and Col. John Cummings about the Experimental Operations Unit at Creech AFB—the team charged with transforming CCA from prototype to operational reality.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig. Gen. Houston "Slider" Cantwell, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Col. Scott Gunn

Guest: Col. John Cummings

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace